New Developments in Celeste Rivas Case
Celeste Rivas, a 15-year-old girl whose remains were discovered in a troubling condition, has been captured in newly released surveillance footage from her hometown in California. The video, filmed at a liquor store in Lake Elsinore around 7 a.m. on March 19, 2024, shows a girl—identified by her family—wearing a black hoodie and white pants. In the clips, she walks quickly down the street before turning a corner and disappearing from sight.
Elie Naddaf, the owner of Dellago Spirits, verified to TMZ that Rivas’ sister visited his store later that day to ask if he could check the security footage from the morning. He stated that he provided the family with the tape, hoping it would assist in locating her.
Naddaf mentioned that Celeste often stopped by his store for snacks and drinks and hadn’t heard of any issues at home. However, law enforcement noted that the teenager had run away multiple times in the past year due to problems at her residence. Her family last communicated with her in July. In January 2024, officers found Rivas in Hollywood and returned her home. The day she went missing, March 19, marked a concerning turn in her situation.
Things took a darker turn when her body was found on September 8 in the front trunk of a Tesla associated with 20-year-old singer-songwriter David Anthony Burke. Police executed a search warrant at Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence, seizing various electronic devices. Although Burke has not been named a suspect, the investigation awaits further clarity on how Rivas died and how her body ended up in the vehicle.
Law enforcement officials stated that Rivas’ remains were found in a severely disassembled state, and her cause of death is still being determined. Meanwhile, there are speculations circulating among friends and online acquaintances about a potential relationship between Rivas and Burke that began on social media earlier in 2024. Though police have not confirmed any connection, conversations and screenshots hint at interactions between the young girl and the artist.
Her body has since been released to a family member, who held a memorial in Lake Elsinore.
